KETV NEWS WATCH SEVEN CHRONICLING THE STORIES IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. STORIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE. STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU. THIS IS KETV NEWS WATCH SEVEN "THE CHRONICLE." . . OMAHA WONDERFUL PLACE AT THAT LIFE AND TO WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY. AND I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE. WE WERE THERE THE MAYOR TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE ALMOST EXACTLY NINE MONTHS AGO. BECOMING FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE CITY AS MAYOR. SHE FACED SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES INCLUDING MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT THAT SHE HAS TURNED INTO A SURPLUS. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO KETV "THE CHRONICLE." TODAY WE ARE TALKING WITH OMAHA MAYOR. FIRST WE WILL BRING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW. LATE LAST MONTH SHE DELIVERED HER FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS AND KETV NEWS WATCH SEVEN GIVES US A SUMMARY. EIGHT MONTHS IN OFFICE AND OMAHA'S MAYOR SAYS CHANGE HAS BEEN GOOD. WE WILL RESURFACE MORE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, TEAR DOWN MORE UNSAFE HOUSING, HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND WE WILL KEEP YOUR LIBRARIES OPEN. THE MAYOR ALSO ADDRESSED THE RESTRUCTURING OF DEPARTMENTS. AND HER NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SAFETY AND I THINK IF YOU WOULD ASK CITIZEN OF OMAHA THEM WOULD SAY MAKE MY CITY SAFE. THEN PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY MONEY. THE MAYOR WANT SHIFT MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ADDING ANOTHER 40 OFFICERS BY 2016 THAT WILL COST LOT OF MONEY IT WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE BUT IT IS A PRIORITY, AND WE NEED TO DO. IT TOPS TAX RELIEF. UNTIL WE MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY ARE ABLE TO EVALUATE EACH DEPARTMENT AND HOW MUCH REVENUE, HOW MUCH MONEY EACH DEPARTMENT NEEDS IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY YES AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE CAN REDUCE TAXES CITIZENS STILL HAVE TO SWALLOW THAT RESTAURANT TAX. SAME ONE THE MAYOR STRONGLY OPPOSED. BUT NOW SHE SAYS THE CITY NEEDS THE $27 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE. I AM NOT GOING TO DO A TAX SHIFT AND RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT NOW AFTER YOU WILL ALL OF THOSE REDUCTIONS TO REPEAL RESTAURANT TAX. I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. THAT'S NOT TAX RELIEF. WELL JOINING ME NOW IS OMAHA MAYOR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY YOU BET GOOD MORNING SO RESTAURANT TAX AT THE TOP OF MIND FOR MANY WHAT'S THE SOLUTION IF WE CAN'T -- IF WE DID TAKE THAT OFF OF THE TABLE YOU TOUCHED ON PROPERTY TAXES WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? RIGHT YOU KNOW THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR MY POSITION ON RESTAURANT OCCUPATION TAX BECAUSE I VOTED AGAINST IT. I TRULY FEEL THAT TAXES ARE NECESSARY. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO TAX IT HAS TO BE BROAD BASED AND IT HAS TO BE FAIR. RESTAURANT TAX ONLY TARGETS ONE NARROW INDUSTRY. SO I DON'T THINK IT IS A FAIR TAX. HAVING SAID THAT, IT WAS IMPOSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. IT IS IN FORCE RIGHT NOW AND IT IS BRINGING IN ANNUAL REVENUE OF ABOUT $27 MILLION. ALMOST TWICE WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PREDICTED TO BRING IN. WHEN I CAME TO OFFICE, YOU KNOW THE 14 BUDGET WAS SUPPOSED TO FACE $20 MILLION SHORTFALL. AND FEW SHORT WEEKS WE NARROWED THAT 20 MILLION SHORTFALL TO BALANCED BUDGET FOR 14. WITHOUT ANY TAX INCREASE AT ALL. IF I WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESTAURANT TACT OUT AT THAT TIME THERE IS ANOTHER $27 MILLION HOLE. I JUST COULDN'T -- THERE WAS NOT ANY WAY WE COULD REPEAL IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF I WAS TO DO NOW, THOUGH, I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT 27 MILLION WITH SOMETHING. AND THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT TO DO IS TURN AROUND AND SAY WELL WE LOO TAKE RESTAURANT TAX WAY BUT HAVE RAISE YOUR PROPERTY TAX TO FILL IN. THAT'S NOT TAX RELIEF WHAT WE HAVE LOOK AT NOW WE HAVE GOT A BALANCED BUDGET, MY GOAL IS NOW TO KEEP EVERY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THEIR BUDGET INCLUDING FIRE BECAUSE I THINK THOSE DAYS OF FIRE BEING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVERBUDGET WITH OVER. ONCE WE GET EVERY DEPARTMENT RUNNING EFFICIENTLY WHICH WE ARE, WE ARE STUDYING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND DOING THAT. THEN WE HOPE THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO TURN AROUND, TOO. ALL FOUR TERMSES POINTS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE START SEEING MORE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COMING IN AND NOR SALES TAX REVENUE COMING IN WHICH I AM SURE WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING. WE ARE RUNNING EFFICIENTLY. THEN WE WILL HAVE THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE CAN START LOWERING TAXES. THE QUESTION IS: WHICH TAX? BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WILL TELL ME THEY WANT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF OVER RESTAURANT TAX RELIEF. SO WE HAVE TO, AGAIN, SET OUR PRIORITIES. BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY AND CONTINUE TO RUN EFFICIENTLY AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT LOWERING TAXES. SO MANY RESTAURANT OWNERS WHO VOTED FOR YOU WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM? IS THAT SOMETHING POSSIBLY IN LONG RUN WE COULD LOOK AT? IT MCLEAY IS. WE MAY HAVE TO CHIP AWAY AT IT. IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY I AM REPEALING IT IT IS GONE. THERE $27 MILLION. BUT I THINK WE HAVE GOT CHIP AWAY AT. IF WE REDUCE IT GRADUALLY AND SHOW THAT WE COULD FUNCTION VERY EFFICIENTLY AND PROVIDE GOOD SERVICES WITHOUT IT, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOWER IT. BUT I -- THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IT HASN'T AFFECTED RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. AND BASICALLY PEOPLE IN RESTAURANT INDUSTRY HAVE TOLD ME THEY REALLY DON'T FAVOR LOWERING IT. THEY WANT IT GONE. BECAUSE EVEN IF IT IS LOWER, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE ACCOUNTING AND ALL OF THE WORK TO REPORT IT AND TURN IT. AND SO YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID WAS -- WAS HOLDS TRUE TODAY. I DON'T THINK IT IS A FAIR TAX AND IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK TO REPEAL. BUT I CAN'T DO THIS QUICKLY. IT JUST GOING TAKE SOMETIME. DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT AUDIT THAT ONCE AN EVER YOUR FIRST THINGS. WHERE ARE WE AT IN THAT PROCESS. ONE OF THE THINGS AND BACK UP A LITTLE BIT IS THAT I PROMISED ALSO IS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND EVERY DEPARTMENT. RIGHT NOW IF I WOULD GO TO PLANNING DIRECTOR AND I WOULD SAY HOW IS YOUR DEPARTMENT AND HE WOULD SAY FINE AND I WOULD SAY SHOW ME HOW? YOU KNOW EVALUATE AND SHOW HOW YOU HAVE EVALUATED WE CAN'T DO THAT NOW AND SO THE FIRST STEP IN CREATING THESE PERFORM STANDARDS WE DID STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. ALL OF MY DIRECTOR ON SATURDAY MET ALL DAY LONG SO THEY WOULDN'T INTERFERE WITH THEIR WORK. AND WE ARE STRATEGIC PLANNING WE WILL DO THREE-YEAR PLAN AND GET ALL OF OUR GOALS TOGETHER AND DO BENCH MARKS IS AS TO HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE THOSE THING. WITH THAT INFORMATION I CAN START DEVELOPING THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS HOW TO EVALUATE EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM DOING ALSO TO YOUR QUESTION IS I AM WORKING WITH OUR NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR STEVEN WHO DO INTERNAL AUDIT. WE DO AN EXTERNAL AUDIT EVERY YEAR. BUT WE NEED TO AUDIT OURSELVES AND AUDIT EVERY DEPARTMENT I AM WORKING CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTORY VERY MUCHING THOUGH INTERNAL AUDITS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TAXPAYER HAVE ASKED FOR FOR A LONG TIME. WE WILL GET IT DONE. ONE OF THE THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS HEADLINES EVERY DATE FIRE DEPARTMENT JUST PUT IT OUT THERE, DO YOU OR HAVE YOU EVER HAD A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? MCLEAY, NO. I MEAN I THINK YOU COULD TELL BY MY HUSBAND AND MY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HE WAS THEIR MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR YEARS LAST FOUR YEARS AS VOLUNTEER. ENJOYED WORKING FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ENJOYED EVERYTHING THAT HE DID. HE PUT HIS MEDICAL LOONS ON-LINE EVERY DAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE BIG SUPPORTERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT IS THAT UNION CHART I NEED TO DEAL WITH. I REPRESENT THE TAXPAYER RIGHT NOW. NOT THE UNIONS AND THOSE LABOR CONTRACTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL. THEY ARE COSTING THE APAIP MILLIONS AND MILLIONS HUNDREDS OF MILLS WERE ON OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR THE GRUDGE NOT AGAINST THE FIREMEN OR THE FIREFIGHTERS OR THE PARAMEDICS THERE IS NO GRUDGE. MY GOAL AND MY JOB AND MY DUTY THAT PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO DO GET THEIR BUDGETS UNDER CONTROL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. THE FIRST STEP WAS I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO DO LEADERSHIP. I WORKED WITH THE LAST CHIEF FOR FOUR YEARS ON COUNCIL I TRULY FELT IF WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET HIM ON TRACK SO THAT THOSE DAYS OF OVERSPENDING BY MILLIONS ARE OVER WE NEEDED NEW LEADERSHIP. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YESTERDAY WE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT I CHOSE STEVE TO OUR PERMAMENT FIRE CHIEF. HIM AND I SHARE THE SAME GOAL AND VISION. HE ALSO IS VERY PROUD OF THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE AND I BOTH WANT FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE DEPARTMENT THAT CITY IS PROUD OF AGAIN. THAT CITY DOES NOT HAVE A GRUDGE OR QUESTIONS THEM WITH THEIR BUDGET. WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND ACHIEVE THAT TOGETHER. WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS. MOVING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY, TOP PRIORITY. YOUR FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AS MAYOR YOU HAD SOME HISTORIC CASES TWO SERIAL MURDERS AND A SERIAL RAPIST. WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHIEF IN THAT TIME MAYBE THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR OR SEE ABOUT? I WORK WITH THE CHIEF EVERY DAY. I TALK WITH HIM EVERY DAY. AND WHAT I SAW IS A VERY STRONG LEADER IN THAT DEPARTMENT. YES, LAST YEAR IN 2013 WE HAD 40 HOMICIDES. IT WAS THE SAME AS THE YEAR BEFORE. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE SATISFIED WITH IT. BUT CLOSURE RATE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SOLVE THESE CRIMES IS SOME OF HIGHEST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. IT IS OVER 80%. YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HAD FOUR HOMICIDES IN 14 ALREADY. THEY ARE ALL SOLVED. WHAT I SEE IS A STRONG LEADER A VERY STRONG DEPARTMENT, AND WHAT I NEED TO DO AS MAYOR GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS. YOU NOW RIGHT THEY ARE WORK NOT ONLY WITH THEMSELVES OF COURSE, BUT WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE STATE, AND WITH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THERE IS A LOT GOING ON ALL OF THE TIME. A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS GOING ON ALL OF THE TIME. THE CHIEF IS A VERY STRONG LEADER. HE IS VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY STAND WITH HIM. NOT ONLY THE CRIMINALS KNOW BUT HIS RANK AND FILE KNOW. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT CASE THAT WAS ON THIRTY-THIRD AND STEWARD, I THINK 99% OF THE TIME OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY FOR US. BUT THERE ARE OCCASIONS THAT THERE IS MISS CON SDUKT AND WE DON'T TOLERATE IT. I THINK HE SHOWED HOW STRONG OF A LEADER HE IS WHEN HE INVESTIGATED HE ACTED QUICKLY. HE FIRED SIX OFFICERS OVER THAT INCIDENT. SO I SEE THEM AS A COHESIVE DEPARTMENT. HE WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH HIS BUDGET THIS YEAR. I THINK HE PROVIDED GOOD SERVICE AND YET HE CAME IN ALMOST 5 MILLION UNDER BUDGET BY RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AND CONTROLLING OVERTIME. AND I THINK HE HAS DONE REALLY GREAT JOB. CITIZENS OF -- YOU HAVE THROWN THAT OUT AN IDEA AND PUT THAT IN PLACE. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE THAT SAY THIS DOES NOT DO ENOUGH. IT IS DO NOT KEEP POLICE IN CHECK I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL LET IT WORK. YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, THE CITY OF OMAHA HAS CITIZENRY VIEW BOARD. THEY HAVE HAD POLICE AUDITOR. NEITHER WORKED VERY WELL. AND I DON'T THINK ANY ONE COULD SAY ONE OF THOSE WAS PERFECT. I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARD CITIZENRY VIEW BOARD RATHER THAN AUDITOR BECAUSE THERE ONE PERSON IF AWED KIT CITIZENRY VIEW BOARD YOU HAVE A SAMPLING OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IN OMAHA AND MORE THAN ONE PERSON THAT ARE LOOKING AT AN INCIDENT. SO IT RESULTS IN BROADER OVERSIGHT. WE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS -- IT IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THIS CITIZENRY VIEW BOARD WORKED WITH THE CHIEF WE EVEN BROUGHT POLICE UNION IN BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO VIOLATE OFFICER'S RIGHTS WITH IT EITHER. ALTHOUGH, SOME PREFERRED TO GO ANOTHER DIRECTION IN IS WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO AND THIS WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO WORK. AND THE CHIEF AGREES WITH ME. WE HEAD OVER 160 APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION. AND SO NOW WE ARE IN PROCESS OF SORTING THOSE OUT BECAUSE THERE GOING TO BE WITH IN PERSON FROM EACH OF THE PRECINCT AND ONE AT LARGE AND THEN I AM GOING TO OH .5 PEOPLE TO BE ON THIS REVIEW BOARD. PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, TOO, THAT A LO SAYING THEY WANT SOMEONE SUBPOENA POWER. I CAN'T -- I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE SUBPOENA POWER. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN GIVEAWAY. AND OUR LAST POLICE AWED DEALT TORE DIDN'T HAVE SUBPOENA POWER. THIS GROUP DOES NOT EITHER. BUT IF WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE UNTIL WE CERTAINLY CAN. I THINK IT IS GOING TO WORK. I WOULD TELL PEEL, GIVE IT SOME TIME. SO MUCH ABOUT VIOLENCE, SO KNEE QUESTIONS WHAT WITH CAN WE DO? HOW MUCH DOES GOOD TIME LAW PLAY A ROLE? YOU KNOW TODD AND I AGAIN, WE HAVE WORKED -- WE CREATED DRAFT BILL THAT WE PRESENTED IT THE SENATOR IN THE LEGISLATURE YOU KNOW HIS MAIN FOCUS THIS YEAR PRISON REFORM, BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE GOOD TIME LAW WITH THAT ALSO. THE CHIEF AGREES THAT GOOD TIMES SHOULD BE EASTERNED AND NOT JUST GIVEN AND WE ALSO AGREE ON MONITORING AFTER SOMEONE IS RELEASED FROM PRISON SCAN WE ARE -- WE ARE CONSIDERING YOU KNOW LIKE A CUP MONITORING DEVICE. ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED AT LEAST WE CAN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AT ALL TIMES THIS SOMETHING THAT WE WROTE INTO THE DRAFT BILL THAT WE PRESENTED. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE BEEN IN LEGISLATURE TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF, AND THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP PUSHING FOR IN OMAHA. SOME OF THESE HIGH-PROFILE MURDERS WE HAD JENKINS FOR EXAMPLE, IF THAT DEVICE WASSING IN PLACE WOULD BE USE OF OUR SHOT SPOTTER. THE FIRST SHOT HE FIRED HE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHERE HE WAS. AND SO I THINK THESE ARE JUST ADDED EXTRA LAYERS THAT WE ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR THAT WE THINK WILL REALLY HELP US IN OMAHA. ALL RIGHT. WELL WE WILL TAKE SHORT BREAK WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CROSSROADS AND MILLER AREAS. YOU ARE WATCHING KETV NEWS WATCH SEVEN "THE CHRONICLE." . THIS KETV NEWS WATCH SEVEN "THE CHRONICLE" WE ARE JOINED BY THE MAYOR. AND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PUTTING IN $50 MILLION BOND ON THE MAY PRIORITIES BOWL LOT TO HELP TRANSFORM CROSSROADS MALL A MASSIVE $400 MILLION PROJECT DEVELOPER TELL US WILL BE A SHOPPING DESTINATION WITH LUXURY LOFTS AND A HOTEL. MAYOR YOU SAID THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW? WELL, FIRST ALL I DON'T THINK ANY ONE WOULD DISAGREE THAT AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT THERE PRIVATE DEVELOPER THAT HAS BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY AND HE HAS A PROPOSAL REALLY REDEVELOP THAT AREA IT IS HUGE PROJECT. IT IS $400 MILLION PROJECT. IT IS LIKE NONE THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE WE HAVE HAD BIG PROJECTS BUT THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP SPARK DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA. THERE SEVERAL FUNDING SOURCES. THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS ASKED FOR TO HELP FUND THAT PROJECT. NOW WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND NUMBER ONE, THAT OWNER EQUITY OR THE MONEY THAT THE DEVELOPER PUT -- IS PUTTING IN IS AT ABOUT 63079 HE PUTTING IN OVER $200 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY ON THERE. THEN WE ARE USING BASICALLY THREE OTHER INCENTIVES. ONE IS TIFF. WHICH WE USE A LOT. IT WILL SPARK DEVELOPMENT. IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE TIFF IN OMAHA SO FAR THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TACK VALUATIONS ON THESE PROJECTS GO UP IN THAT AREA FROM 800 TO 1,000 PERCENT. YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS REALLY IN AN EFFECTIVE TOOL WHAT HAPPENS WITH TIFF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX VALUATIONS, BECAUSE OF THE PROJECT, CAN GO BACK TO HELP PAY FOR THE PROJECT. WHAT IS ALREADY THERE, THE SCHOOLS WILL STILL GET. OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE. BUT THIS IS THE INCREASE THERE IS ANOTHER L.B. 562 THAT WE ARE USING THERE, TOO. WHICH IS ALLOWING AN OKAY CUE PAYING TAX FOR JUST THAT AREA IN AND THAT OCCUPATION TAX IS 1.95% INCREASE IN SALES TAX. JUST IN THAT AREA AND THAT INCREASE IN SALES TAX IN THAT AREA JUST FOR THAT PROJECT BASICALLY GOES BACK TO HELP PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT. THE LAST ONE, HOWEVER, IS THE ONE THAT PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED ABOUT. AND THAT IS THERE IS A $50 MILLION GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND THAT'S GOING ON THE MAY BALLOT ANOTHER THE TAXPAYER'S TO APPROVE WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS IS THAT THE TAXPAYERS AREN'T OBJECT BRING INDICATED TO PAY THIS BOND. GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. IT COULD NOT -- AND IT WON'T BE USED TO BUILD THE BUILDINGS OR BUILD THE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS ONLY FOR STREETS, SIDEWALKS SEWERS, ET CETERA. SO THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT THE -- THE BUILDER, THE DEVELOPER IS GOING TO BACK THE PAYMENTS OF THE BOND. SO OTHERWISE, THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COMES FROM THAT AREA WILL BE PAYING THE BONDS, IF THEY DON'T MAKE THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN THAT AREA THE BUILDER HAS AGREED TO KEEP A FUND EVERY YEAR OF ABOUT $4 MILLION A YEAR THAT HE WILL KEEP WHICH IS WHAT BOND PAYMENT WILL BE, AND HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE BOND, NOT THE TAXPAYER. SO THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION IS. BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TAXPAYERS FEEL LIKE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND THEN WE ARE ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING FOR IT. SO THE QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED WHY DID TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS? THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING FOR IT. IT IS A DIFFERENT APPROACH. BUT -- THE DEVELOPER GOING TO BACK THOSE BONDS. AND THE OTHER THING I DON'T WANT TO BE CONFUSED IS THE CITY HAS $92 MILLION BOND ISSUE ON THE BALLOT IN MAY, TOO THESE ARE OUR BOND THAT WE PASS EVERY SO MANY YEARS THAT HELPED FUND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS THERE SEWER BONDS PUBLIC SAFETY BONDS, THESE ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE TAXES AT ALL BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING THEM ON BALLOT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING OFF OVA. THAT BOND ISSUE IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER, AND WE REALLY NEED OUR CITY BOND ISSUE 92 MILLION PASSED IF WE DON'T, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE AS FAR AS PARKS, STREETS REPAIR, A PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE THINGS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE FUNDED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE KEEP THOSE TWO SEPARATE. DEVELOPERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MY PROJECT. WHY CITY PICKING AND CHOOSING WHEN MILLER AREA WHERE MILLER LUMBER USED TO BE NEEDS REDEVELOPMENT. NORTH OMAHA NEEDS DEVELOPMENT. WHAT DO YOU SAY? WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THOSE AREAS ON REDEVELOPMENT. WE WILL BE OFFERING INCENTIVES THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS TIFF FOR ALL OF THOSE AREAS TOO AND SO UNDERWAY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM. THING WITH IN CROSSROADS NUMBER ONE IS NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED BEFORE. DEVELOPER HAS NEVER ASKED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR SUCH A HUGE PROJECT. TO SAY, LET'S TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW HAVING SOME BONDS ISSUED WE WILL PAY FOR THE BONDS. SO THIS SOMETHING A BIT UNUSUAL. IT IS NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR BEFORE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE NOT USED IT BEFORE. WOULD WE ENTERTAIN FOR ANOTHER BIG DEVELOPMENT? WE CERTAINLY WOULD. BUT LET'S SEE -- YOU KNOW LET'SCY HOW TO GOES WITH CROSSROADS FIRST. IT IS A BIG PROJECT. IT IS $400 MILLION PROJECT. AND YOU KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPER BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT IT IS TAXPAYER, TOO. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TAXPAYER ARE NOT ON THE LOOK. BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK MILLER IS YOUR HOME. YES. THAT'S YOUR AREA WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN FORMER MILLER LUMBER SITE. IT IS DIRE NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT. IT IS REALLY RUNDOWN. GET A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING ME COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. WHEN SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE? SOME OF BUILDINGS ARE FALLING OVER AND FENCES ARE FALLING OVER. THERE IS AN INTERESTED DEVELOPER IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW. IT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET BUT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME MIXED USE AREA THEY WOULD COMBINE RESIDENTIAL AND SOME RETAIL AND SOME OFFICE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT FACE LIFT FOR THAT AREA OF TOWN AND I THINK THE CITIZENS AROUND THAT AREA ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. MILLER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, I ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY ONE MEMBER CATEGORY ME QUESTIONS AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR SUPPORT SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM ON AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL MOVE FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. WE STILL HAVE MORAL TO COME LATER ON THIS MORNING WITH MAYOR. FIRST WE WANT TO REMIND IF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK WE WANT TO HEAR IT. YOU CAN E-MAIL US AT KETV.COM. YOU CAN ALSO CALL US AT: . REMEMBER TO SPEAK CLEARLY WE MAY USE YOUR COMMENTS ON AIR. AND ALSO TRY TO BE BRIEF. YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US RIGHT THERE. KETV.COM. LIKE US ON Facebook. OR FOLLOW US ON TWITTER. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. WE SAVED TOUGHEST QUESTIONS FOR THE END FOR THE MAYOR. JOINING US THIS MORNING. YOUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT AND THE VERY HARDEST? OH, BOY. THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. BUT I WILL TELL YOU I -- I THINK MY FAVORITE MOMENT IS WHEN I CAN HELP PEOPLE SOLVE THEIR EVERY DAY PROBLEMS. IT IS TRULY IS. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S MONUMENTAL. OF COURSE I WAS VERY HAPPY WHEN WE BALANCED THE BUDGET. I WAS VERY HAPPY WHEN WE RENEGOTIATED THE FIRE CONTRACT. I WAS HAPPY WHEN I A POINTED CHIEF. BUT WHAT GIVES ME MOST IS SATISFACTION WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME WITH EVERY DAY PROBLEMS AND I AM ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH IT. PROBABLY MOST FRUSTRATING IS WHEN I CAN'T. BECAUSE SOME TIMES I AM LIMITED TO WHAT I CAN DO. BUT NOTHING IS A SURPRISE TO ME. YOU KNOW I TOOK CITY COUNCIL AS FULL-TIME JOB I WAS DOWN THERE ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I KNEW WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. AND I THINK THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR ME IS I JUST GET IMPATIENT WITH MYSELF. BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN EVERY SDPEPT WITH THE BUDGET. ALL OF THIS STUFF TAKES TIME. I MEAN IT JUST TAKES TIME. AND IT IS A PROCESS. AND I WANT TO GET IT DONE RIGHT NOW. BUT I HAVE SUCH A GOOD TEAM. THAT WORK FOR ME. I FEEL VERY BLESSED OF THE DIRECTORS THAT I HAVE CHOSEN. AND THE STAFF THAT I HAVE CHOSEN. IT REALLY A CHOW WOULD GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. I ENJOY IT AN ABUT I WE STILL HAVE LOT OF CHALLENGES WE DO YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT I HAVE PROMISED I DON'T PROMISE IF I DON'T THINK I CAN DELIVER. I PROMISED WE WOULD LOWER TAXES WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT. I PROMISED WE WOULD ADDRESS THE VIOLENT CRIME ISSUE. WE NEED TO GET THAT GOING IN POSITIVE DIRECTION. OF REDUCING IT EVERY YEAR WE WILL NOT TOTALLY ELIMINATE VIOLENCE OR CRIME IN CITY OF OUR SIZE BUT IF WE CAN REDUCE IT EVERY YEAR THAT IS SUCCESS.

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